Henry Frampton (Harry) Clarke
From Our Contribution
 Western Mail 1 Nov 1918 p.23 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1887 |
| Place of Birth | North Adelaide, South Australia |
| Death | 15 Feb 1962, aged 76 |
| Place of Death | Manjimup |
| Age at Enlistment | 29 years, 4 months |
| Description |
5'7½" (1.71m) tall ; 138 lbs 62.596 kg ; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; light brown hair |
| Occupation | Horse driver |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | c/- Post Office, Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Thomas Clarke |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 991 |
| Date of Enlistment | 12 Oct 1916 |
| Rank | Lance Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | Australian Remount Unit, 4th Squadron / ANZAC Mounted Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 12 Nov 1915 ‒ ?? Dec 1915 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A67 Orsova Fremantle to Port Suez |
| Date of Return | 26 Jul 1919 ‒ 22 Aug 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMT Burma |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Kelmscott War Memorial (West panel) |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries - 1909 a butcher in Kelmscott; 1913 a labourer
War Service
Harry's first attempt to enlist was turned down on the grounds that he had insufficient teeth (to be able to masticate the hard biscuits issued). His initial training was with the Remount unit based at Guildford and so it would appear that although he was accepted, he would largely be confined to base area units where his teeth were less of an issue. He did serve for a time with the Australian Remount Unit's 4th Squadron, but his records from arrival in Egypt in Dec 1915 until 28 Oct 1917 are not included with the rest of his records in the National Archives. The remount unit was responsible for maintaining horse numbers in active units, looking after ill or worn out horses, and sourcing new mounts for the active units.
On 28 Oct 1917 Harry was detached to the Australian Field Remount Section in Rafa, returning to his parent unit in Moascar on 14 Nov 1917. On 17 Jan 1918 he was appointed Lance Corporal, and on 16 Sep 1918 he was posted to the Field Remount Section at Ludd (Lod) in Palestine. On 30 Oct 1918 he appears to be with his unit at Jerico, and on 6 Jan 1919 he was a member of a draft of men sent from Jerico to Moascar to prepare for their return to Australia.
Boarding the ship at Kantara, Harry was one of only six WA men to arrive home on the HMT Burma which stopped over in Colombo for a day with some of the men taking up an offer for a sightseeing trip to Kandy. Henry was discharged by the 5th Military District on 14 Oct 1919.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1925 with wife Mary Ethel in Kelmscott - a dairy farmer; 1931 - 1958 a group settler at "Group 83 Appadene" Manjimup. 1963 and 1968 Mary by herself at No. 4 Dunreath Cottages, Manjimup. Mary died 14 Apr 1971 aged 81.
Son Cpl Thomas Henry Edward Clarke WX26745 44th Battalion AIF died 12 Apr 1944 aged 22. Buried Atherton War Cemetery. Other children were Jack, Doreen, Ben and Nellie. Harry is buried in the Manjimup cemetery.
Notes